Moving to Costa Rica from Sao Tome and Principe
What to Expect
Considering a move from Sao Tome and Principe to Costa Rica? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Sao Tome and Principe to Costa Rica, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Costa Rica compared to Sao Tome and Principe.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Sao Tome and Principe performs better than Costa Rica across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on environment, though Costa Rica leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on infrastructure, though Costa Rica leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
Costa Rica performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Costa Rica performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sao Tome and Principe and Costa Rica. To live, work, or study long-term in Costa Rica, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Costa Rica's immigration authority.
Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Costa Rica
Visa Free
Costa Rica passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe
Visa Online (e-Visa)Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Costa Rica?
Connectivity is usually fine (Costa Rica: 21.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Costa Rica offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Costa Rica safe for expats?
Sao Tome and Principe performs better than Costa Rica across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Costa Rica is 17.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.2 in Sao Tome and Principe.
How is healthcare in Costa Rica compared to Sao Tome and Principe?
Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 26.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Costa Rica, compared to 4.9 in Sao Tome and Principe. Costa Rica scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sao Tome and Principe: 59).
What language do they speak in Costa Rica?
The official language in Costa Rica is Spanish. In Sao Tome and Principe, the official language is Portuguese.
